The Surrey Hospital & Outpatient Centre Foundation‘s inaugural Bollywood Ball, presented by Bausch + Lomb and celebrating Project Eye, raised $1.2 million to help prevent blindness.
All donations will go towards equipping a dedicated Retinal Operating Room at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
This operating room will allow an additional 500 retinal surgeries to be performed each year.
Guests were transported back to the opulence of 1920s Imperial India. Canadian Comedian Ali Hassan flew in from Toronto to entertain guests. He was joined by fellow Toronto resident Chris Gruhn, director of sales for Bausch + Lomb Canada.
Gruhn said the new operating room will boast the title of Canada’s first Centre of Excellence in Retinal Management.
“This event is an outstanding representation of the commitment and fortitude of a community that cares,” He said. “We recognized the talent and opportunity within this practice to continually grow and push the medical field, and our company, to make better equipment and help more people. We are excited about the future we have with this outstanding team of retinal surgeons.”
“It’s great to see that the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre is continuing to attract investment, particularly in the area of surgical innovation and the best quality care,” said Jim Pattison, one of Canada’s leading business entrepreneurs.
“We recognize how important this need is and recognize our part of the responsibility to ensure that our practice and our patients have access to the most innovative equipment,” said Dr. Hugh Parsons, Chief of Surgery at Surrey Memorial Hospital, member of the Retinal Surgical Associates. “Every day we see the difference a great surgeon can make with the right piece of equipment and we are committed to providing the best care we can.”
“Fraser Health surgeons must be progressive and innovative to meet the health needs of Canada’s fastest-growing region,” said Jane Adams, President and CEO of Surrey Hospital & Outpatient Centre Foundation. “This partnership with Bausch + Lomb will allow us to lead the country in advancing the treatment of retinal disease, the leading cause of blindness in Canada.”
Guests enjoyed performances by the Shiamak Dance Academy and curated cocktails by mixologist Alex Black.
Lucky live auction bidders went home with items such as a new Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Coupe and a vintage Rolex, but the highlight of the night was a trip to Jamaica to work with local doctors to perform vision saving eye surgery in a local village and the opportunity to meet the Archbishop of Jamaica.
For further information on the retinal campaign, to donate, or see highlights from the evening, visit www.bollywoodball.ca
